Neil Patrick Harris introduced Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on August 15th. The two Imagineers unveiled the signature stage show coming to the Glob Theater in Monstropolis. It’s called “Welcome to Monstropolis,” built around a new original song written by Disney Legend Randy Newman. Disney also confirmed that most of Monstropolis, including the Glob Theater, will open in 2027, a year earlier than previously expected, while the Door Vault roller coaster stays on its original timeline.
Randy Newman’s New Song Headlines High Tech Monstropolis Theater Show
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Randy Newman wrote an original song, “Welcome to Monstropolis,” for the Glob Theater show
- Mike and Sulley will host the new signature show, introducing human guests to Monstropolis
- Most of Monstropolis will now open in 2027, though the Door Vault coaster is on a later, unchanged timeline
Beatty told the D23 crowd that the monsters of Monstropolis have decided to invite humans into their world for the first time. The Glob Theater show is where that welcome will happen. As we reported when Imagineering filed an electrical permit for the Glob Theater in July, Disney had confirmed the venue would house a theater show. Details on the show itself remained scare-ce…until now.
Beatty said the show centers on Mike and Sulley as hosts. The two walk human guests through a message that monsters and humans are more alike than either side previously believed. Sulley’s portion is a modest, homespun segment, according to Beatty. Mike, described by Beatty as ever the showman, has prepared additional surprises meant to make a bigger impression.
While not directly mentioned in the panel, Imagineers have previously described the theater show as being high-tech. The exact tech wasn’t detailed, and isn’t immediately obvious from the concept art. That said, an exploding laugh canister suggests a 3D element.
Randy Newman’s First Park-Specific Song
The show’s centerpiece song, “Welcome to Monstropolis,” was written by Randy Newman specifically for this attraction. Hundgen said this marks the first time Newman has written an original song for a Disney theme park. That’s a milestone given Newman’s decades of scoring the Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. franchises for Pixar. The song was performed for the D23 audience ahead of Beatty and Hundgen’s remarks.
Monstropolis Opening Moved Up to 2027
Hundgen and Beatty confirmed that most of Monstropolis, including the Glob Theater, will now open to guests in 2027. Previous speculation had not pointed to an opening that early. Beatty credited the earlier date to construction progress across the land moving faster than anticipated.
The Door Vault roller coaster is the one exception. Imagineers are still very much in the construction phase of the project. Beatty said that portion of Monstropolis will not be ready alongside the rest of the land in 2027. In other words, the accelerated 2027 date applies to the surrounding land, not to the coaster itself. As we reported in May, aerial photos showed steel structures rising at the coaster’s construction site. Track installation got underway over the summer.
Story So Far
- Disney removed MuppetVision 3D’s wait time and Lightning Lane signage in October 2025, one of the first visible signs of the theater’s conversion.
- Imagineering filed a permit for set installation inside the building in March 2026, alongside concept art renaming the venue from “The Monstro” to “The Glob.”
- Disney confirmed The Glob and Harryhausen’s by name in official H.U.M.A.N. Day backstory materials released June 4th.
- Disney gave media a hard-hat tour of Monstropolis in June, confirming the theater show plans hadn’t changed without offering further details.
- Imagineering filed an electrical permit for the Glob Theater in July, naming Elite A/V Systems Inc. as the contractor for the building’s technology-heavy show.
Disney has not yet released a specific opening date within 2027 for the Glob Theater or the rest of Monstropolis. We’ll continue tracking permit filings and construction progress as the Glob Theater nears completion.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!